Malta donates 20,000 doses of AstraZeneca & 25,000 COVID test kits to Antigua and Barbuda

Saint John’s: Antigua and Barbuda has received a donation of 20,000 doses of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines and 25,000 COVID-19 test kits from the government of Malta. The donation arrived on the Caribbean island on Tuesday, February 1 2022.

The Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment appreciated the efforts of the Malta government for their generous step by providing a much-needed donation to Antigua and Barbuda, assisting it in its COVID-19 battle.

The donation was accepted by the Health Minister, Sir Molwyn Joseph, Director of Pharmaceutical Services, Alfred Athill and Director of the Antigua Barbuda Emergency Medical Services, Shawn Greenidge.

Around 64.5% of the Antigua and Barbuda population, which is 63,197 individuals, have received at least one jab of the COVID-19 vaccine and are partially inoculated as of January 26, 2022.

On the other hand, to date, there are a total of 60,358 persons who have taken their required number of the WHO-approved COVID-19 vaccines and hence are now fully vaccinated against the contagious COVID-19 viral disease. This number counts for 61.6% of the island’s total targeted population.

The health ministry noted that more than 164,000 doses of the novel coronavirus had been administered at the vaccination sites across the island.

As per to the statistics, more than 6,732 confirmed infections of the COVID-19 mutant are reported by the healthcare facilities of Antigua and Barbuda. So far, there are a total of 127 individuals on the Caribbean island who have lost their lives to the contagious virus since the pandemic emerged in the country.

Booster shots are also currently being administered in the Caribbean island of the WHO-approved AstraZeneca, Pzifer, and Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccines at the vaccination sites of Multipurpose Cultural and Exhibition Centre and Villa Polyclinic.

The COVID-19 vaccination centres operate from 9 am to 5 pm, from Monday to Friday and from 9 am to 3 pm on Fridays.